The 51st Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom concluded on Sunday 30 July 2017 with a call for believers to reject all forms of extremism” in the last of his five speeches by the World Head the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
During the event, His Holiness spoke about the rise of extremism and continued instability in the world. He called for Muslims to return to the true teachings of Islam.
During his concluding address, His Holiness said: It is up to Muslims to stand up and reject all forms of extremism and terrorism. It is the task of Ahmadi Muslims to show the true teachings of Islam which are of peace love, mercy and compassion,” he added.
The Convention began on Friday with the traditional Friday Sermon and the raising of the black and white flag of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community alongside the Union Flag. On Saturday (the second day of the event), the Caliph conducted proceedings from the ladies marquee where 15,000 Muslim women witnessed His Holiness awarded prizes to women for academic achievements and deliver a speech on the rights and empowerment Islam affords them.
More than 30,000 Muslims from 100 countries gathered recently to “promote the true, peaceful teachings of Islam” at the largest Islamic convention in the UK.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community head Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad called for believers to “reject all forms of extremism” in the last of his five speeches. “It is up to Muslims to stand up and reject all forms of extremism and terrorism. It is the task of Ahmadi Muslims to show the true teachings of Islam which are of peace love, mercy and compassion,” he said.
The Jalsa Salana event, held on a 200-acre farm in Hampshire, saw tens of thousands of Ahmadi Muslims come together to condemn “misinterpretations of Islam” and denounce extremism and terrorism. The Caliph, who is the spiritual leader of the community’s followers, regularly comments on religious extremism.
He has previously spoken out about the threat of terrorists entering Europe pretending to be refugees. Apart from the thousands of Ahmadi Muslims who participated, many non-Ahmadi and non-Muslim guests also attended. The entire event was also broadcast live on MTA International and streamed online.
One of the highlights of the three-day Convention was the pledge of allegiance, known as Bai’at that took place on Sunday afternoon, where the participants pledged allegiance to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad as the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph) of the Promised Messiah – Hazrat Mirza Ghlam Ahmad(peace be upon him). The participants formed a human chain leading to the Khalifa as they repeated the words of the pledge in unison.
Prior to the ceremony, His Holiness announced that 609,556 people had joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community during the past year from all around the world. He also announced that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was now established in 210 countries. The event concluded with silent prayer led by His holiness.
